October 1492
On the main deck of the Santa Maria, Admiral Colon, along with Rodrigo de Escobedo, notary of the fleet, made note of the time and date. Two hours past midnight, Friday, October 12, land had been sighted two leagues off.
Ordering all ships to heave to, shorten sails, and drop anchor.
Colon decided to wait for daylight before sending any landing parties ashore.
At sea for a little over a month, the admiral was pleased with the results. No major storms had been encountered. Food was still plentiful. All ships’ crews were still healthy, and performing well. And to his vast delight, no more than two leagues away was—Asia!
Barely able to contain his excitement. The admiral began humming a long forgotten melody while pacing along the deck.
Although familiar with the admiral’s somewhat eccentric behavior. Señor Escobedo was at a complete loss now in assessing what the admiral required of him.
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Stopping his humming and pacing, momentarily, Colon looked at Escobedo and asked, “Why are you still here, Rodrigo?
Inform the interpreter. Diego de…? Diego…?”
“Diego de San Gil, Admiral?”
“Yes, yes…Diego de San Gil. Inform him I wish to see him right away, now.”
Hastily retreating to get Diego. Escobedo, shaking his head in amazement, thought, strange as his behavior is, the admiral is a brilliant man. He has led us to the Indies, and all the riches they may contain. Yet why would he want to see Diego de San Gil at this most promising time in the expedition? Surely the charts have been correct.
Maybe it’s a matter of language, the Converso did speak a number of different ones. Well whatever it was, he would eventually find out.
Diego, sitting alone in his cabin, recorded the events of the night in his own personal journal. A journal he had kept since boarding the Santa Maria two months ago. His cabin mate Juan Sanchez de la Casa, the ship’s physician, along with the most of the ship’s crew was on deck, were awaiting orders to explore the newly discovered land. Designated as one of the crew-members to make the first landing, Diego decided he would try to rest before morning. But the excitement of sighting land, and the chattering of the crew on deck made sleep almost impossible.
The journal had been his way of keeping his love for Elena, and memories of his family alive. It gave him the strength to survive the journey, a journey that had so changed his life.
Diego, with much help from Juan Sanchez, overcame his seasickness, and managed to reconcile himself to the ship’s food.
By avoiding all meat, he managed to subsist on fish, such as sardines, anchovies, and salted cod. Sufficient quantities of cheese, chick-peas, lentils, sea biscuits, nuts, molasses, and honey, made up the balance of his diet. For drink, wine and water was readily available.
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Finishing the entry he had been writing, Diego put his journal away, and let his mind wander, thinking about his days aboard ship, how lucky he was to have been placed in the same cabin with Juan Sanchez de la Casa, a true gentleman, a Hidalgo of the first order. He had shown Diego nothing but kindness and respect. Even though Diego’s status as a Converso was not secret.
His baptismal certificate clearly indicated this fact. And was required to be shown, before he was allowed to board ship.
Juan became Diego’s refuge from the loneliness of isolation he was subjected to. The boredom of the everyday duties they both were required to perform. Well educated and well read.
Sanchez found Diego’s abilities, and his fine mind stimulating.
Lively discussions took place almost every evening on numerous subjects. Both men found each other’s company stimulating as well as comforting.
Born in Cordoba of a wealthy family, Juan had been well educated in the arts, medicine religion, and history. After receiving his medical training he traveled a great deal. His love of ships though, prevented his establishing a regular medical practice. As soon as he began one, some new ship or journey would catch his fancy, and off he would be. Sailing, or investigating some new means of navigation. Although it disturbed his parents, and disappointed a number of ladies-in-waiting, he jumped at the chance to join Colon’s expedition when it was offered.
As Diego contemplated his newfound friend, a loud knocking at his cabin door roused him from his reverie. Going to the door and opening it, he was astonished to find the notary of the fleet standing there, more astonished when the notary spoke.
“San Gil, the admiral asks that you join him in his cabin, immediately.” Not waiting for a reply, Escovedo turned on his heel, leaving Diego standing in the doorway in surprised silence. Closing the door, Diego thought, What does the admiral require of me?
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Quickly grooming himself, he made his way directly to the admiral’s cabin.
* * *
Diego could not speak he was so shocked. Did he really hear what the admiral had said!“Don’t look so surprised, San Gil,” Colon continued, “you especially should be mindful. Not all of us was born to the Christian faith. Some embraced it as an expedient means of surviving. My grandparents for example, you yourself did so, why? Only you can answer that. The reason I was given for my grandparents’ actions was—their love of the Jewish faith. A faith which transformed myself and my parents into perfect Catholics. But kept our Jewish traditions alive within our hearts and minds, dimmed only by time. You, on the other hand, have only recently accepted the Christian faith. Your Jewish roots are still alive, the culture is still fresh in your mind. All I want you to do is prepare a proper benediction that you will recite at tomorrow’s landfall. A benediction that includes some Jewish legacy.”
Concerned and alarmed, Diego hesitantly answered, “But, Admiral, reciting such a benediction before members of the crew will put you into much danger. You will be denounced, you—”
“Calm yourself, Diego,” a smiling Colon answered, “I have no intention of allowing the crew to hear the benediction you prepare. I will honor their Majesties in the most proper manner.
Only you and I will understand the ceremony of the Jewish benediction.”
“But how?”
“No more questions, Diego, prepare the benediction.”
“As you wish, Admiral.”
Turning and leaving, his mind in a whirl, Diego returned to his cabin ready to do as the admiral had asked.
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* * *
At daybreak, Friday, October 12, in the year of our Lord 1492, near a small Caribbean Island called Guanahani in the native tongue, two small boats made their way to shore.Admiral Colon, Rodrigo Escovedo, notary of the fleet, along with the captains of the Nina and Pinta, in one. In the other, armed members of the crew including Diego de San Gil and Juan Sanchez. Juan de Triana, the sailor who first sighted land, sat in a place of honor on this second boat. The admiral himself bore the royal standard, The two captains each bore a banner of the royal cross.
Quickly making landfall on a small sandy beach. They all gathered round the royal standard held by Colon. The admiral in a firm voice called upon all present to bear witness. That he before all others, took possession of the island, in the name of the King and Queen of España, his royal sovereigns.
Diego, uneasy over the intrigue the admiral had thrust upon him, yet thrilled at setting foot on some foreign land, anxiously waited for a signal from Colon, hoping the benediction he had prepared would fulfill the admiral’s wishes.
Waiting, he began to closely examine the land around him, seeing trees, very green, many streams, and varying kinds of vegetation. Someone speaking his name, interrupted his survey.
“Diego de San Gil, you and Juan de Triana will follow me.
Juan de Triana, you will have the honor of carrying and setting the royal standard. San Gil, you will assist him. The rest shall wait here,” the admiral ordered.
Handing the royal standard to Juan de Triana, Colon led the small party off the beach, and headed for a small rise where the beach met the tangle of foliage marking the beginning of the jungle.
Moving cautiously for about one hundred paces to the top of the rise, Colon signaled them to stop. Motioning to Triana to set 129
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the royal standard, he whispered to Diego, “Recite the benediction now.”
Has the admiral gone completely mad, Diego thought, surely Triana will suspect something, the prayer is in Hebrew. Confused and frightened, Diego, at a vigorous shaking of the admiral’s head, haltingly began the benediction.
As Diego recited the words, his mind flooded with memories of his father, brother, of Elena and the life he had left behind in Spain. Completing the prayer, tears forming in his eyes, Diego glanced at the admiral who was standing very still. As their eyes met, Colon nodded a small smile appeared on his face, which quickly disappeared.
Juan de Triana, as he worked to set the royal standard, listened to the words of the benediction. Not comprehending them, he smiled to himself and thought how well the Converso had learned his Latin.
Satisfied with this small ceremony, Admiral Colon led them back to the main party waiting on the beach, ordering all crews back to the boats, as he surveyed the beach thought.
Tomorrow we will completely explore these islands for whatever treasures they may hold.
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